Bookstand



June 14, G, w AL ET AL 1,862,562

BOOKSTAND Filed Aug. 9, 1930 Patented June 14, 1932 ATENT GEDOR W. ALD-EEN AND ALFRED A. CARLSON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR$ TO THE SKANIDIA FURNITURE COMPANY ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOISI, O33 ROCKFORD,

BOOKSTAND Application filed August 9,

Our invention relates to bookstands and has particular reference to a stand adapted to support a dictionary or the like arranged to hold the book in an open or a closed position as. desired. Bookstands of the general character described have been known to the art. So far as we are aware, however, all of thesestands'have been subject to one or more disadvantages which render them cumbersome and ineliicient in use. For example,

they have required manually operable devices for lowering the side boards from a closed to an open position and vice versa. These have consisted of devices either for m? actually causing movement of the side boards or devices for locking the boards in one position operable to release the boards to permit them to be manually moved to the other position. Many of these devices have been ar 29? ranged to bring the side boards, in their open position, parallel with the center-board, thereby causing the book to lie completely open on a substantially flat surface, which is in many cases objectionable.

WVe have, therefore, aimed to provide a bookstand arranged to support a book either in an open or a closed position, having devices automatically operable to secure the book in either position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bookstand wherein the side boards of the stand lie at an angle with respect to the center-board in the open position thereof, thereby supporting the book in a manner in which the leaves thereof will lie substantially flat.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bookstand having a center-board and a pair of side boards the side boards being hinged to the center-board to move between open and closed positions, and means acting between the side boards and the center-board for automatically securing and releasing the side boards in either position.

Another object of the invention is the 1930. Serial No. 474,165.

provision of a bookstand having stop hinges connecting acenter-board and side boards thereof, arranged to limit the movement of the side boards and determine their open position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described which may be manufactured at a cost substantially less than heretofore possible.

Other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front perspective of the bookstand showing the side boards in their open position and, in dotted lines, in their closed position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through the center-board and one side board showing the hinge and the latching mechanism, the side board being in its open position; and

Fig. 3 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with the side board in the closed position.

The invention contemplates the provision of a bookstand adapted to support a dictionary, encyclopedia, or other reference work with which there is occasion to have quick and ready access. The device is so arranged that the book is normally maintained in aclosed position and rests upon its back in an angular position with respect to the horizontal, whereby it is convenient for use by the reader in the standing position. Automatic means are provided for maintaining the book in this closed position, this means permitting the sides of the book to be manually forced downward to open the same whereby the latching means automatically holds it in the open position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a pedestal indicated generally by the numeral 5 is provided with aplurality of legs 6 if desired, for maintaining the pedestal in an upright position. It will be seen that any desired or convenient type of pedestal may be employed and any suitable base may be substituted in place of the legs 6. The upper end 7 of the pedestal may be pivotally supported upon the remainder if desired by providing a pin 8 fixedly secured to the upper portion 7 rotatably positioned in an opening in the lower portion of the pedestal in an obvious manner. A. center-board 9 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the pedestal in an inclined position as shown in Fig. 1 the board being of such width as to receive the back of the desired book such as a dictionary thereon. Side boards 10 and 11 are hingedly secured thereto by means of hinges 12, 13, 14 and 15, the hinges 12 and 13 connecting the side board 10 with the center-board 9 and the hinges 14% and 15 connecting the center-board 9 with the side board 11.

Each of the hinges 12, 13, 14: and 15 are identical, and Fig. 2 may represent a section through the center-board, side board, and any hinge secured thereto. Each of the hinges is provided with a plate 16 secured to a side board by means of screws 17 and 18 and a plate 19 secured to the center-board by means of screws 20 and 21. A pin 22 con nects the plates 16 and 19 at the junction between the center-board and the side board. A block 23 having a shoulder 24 arranged to engage the plate 16 and a shoulder 25 arranged to engage the plate 19, is pivotally positioned upon the pin 22. It will be seen that the block 23 permits the side board 10.

to be rotated to the right facing Fig. 2 into a vertical position, but limits the movement thereof to the left beyond the position shown in this figure by contact of the shoulders 2a and 25 with the plates 16 and 19.

A spring latch having an outer member 26 and an inner member 27 is positioned on the opposite side of the center-board 9 and the side boards 10 and 11 from each of the hinges 12, 13, 14 and 15, the outer member 26 being secured to the center-board 9 and the inner member 27 being secured to the side boards. The outer member 26 is secured to the center board 9 through screws 28 and 29 and is provided with outwardly projecting socket portions 30 and 31. An inwardly projecting portion 32 separates the socket portions 30 and 31, and the end 33 thereof is caused to project inwardly beyond the socket portion 31. The inner member 27 is secured to the side board by means of screws 3 1 and 35 and is provided with a downwardly projecting portion 36, arranged to project downward beyond the lower edge 37 of the side board. The clownwardly projecting portion 36 is provided with a flattened section 38 near the lower end'thereof, the lower end 39 being turned back upon the portion 36 to provide a rounded end 40. The center-board 9 is slotted away as shown at 41 to permit the down wardly projecting portion 36 to spring inward beyond what would nominally be permitted by the center-board 9.

lVhen the side boards 10 and 11 occupy the open position as shown in Fig. 2, the section 38 is arranged to rest within the socket 30 of the outer portion 26 as shown, the block 23 preventing further downward movement of the side board. When the side boards 10 or 11 are grasped by the user and manually moved to the vertical position shown in Fig. 3, the section 38 slides up over the inwardly projecting portion 32 and the end 10 of the portion 27 moves into the socket 31. The inward movement of the side boards 10 and 11 is limited by the inwardly projecting portion 33 and by contact of the side boards against the book resting therebetween. In the closed position outward movement of the side boards 10 and 11 is resisted by the spring action of the latch member 26 holding the socket 31 firmly against the end 40 of the latch portion 27, the inwardly projecting portion 32 resisting movement of the end 10 inwardly along the member 26. However, when a certain maximum amount of pressure is placed upon the side boards 10 and 11, the end 40 of the latch will be caused to move over the inwardly projecting portion 32 and into the Josition shown in Fig. 2. Thus the book will be firmly held in the closed position of the side boards 10 and 11 until the operator exerts suflicient pressure on the side boards to cause them to be moved into the open position. A molding 42 and 13 may be placed along the lower edge of the side boards 10 and 11, respectively, and a molding 44. along the lower edge of the centerboard, to prevent the book from sliding on the inclined surfaces of these members.

The advantages of our improved construction will doubtless have become apparent. \Vhen the user approaches the bookstand in which the dictionary or otherbook is secured in its closed position with its back against the center-board 9, it is only necessary for him, in order to open the book, to grasp the side board 10 in one hand, and the side board 11 in the other hand, exerting an outward pressure thereon suificient to cause the end 40 of each of the latches to move over the inwardly project-ing portions 32. The side boards will then move outward about the hinges to the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the book' is presented for use. It is unnecessary to operate any special device to releasethe side boards 10 and 11 from their vertical position. When the operator is finished with the book the above described operations are reversed and the side boards 10 and 11 are brought into their vertical position. At this point it is unnecessary for the operator to manipulate any special device to secure the book in this position.

Automatic and concealed means are provided for limiting the movement of the side boards 10 and 11 so that when they are moved to the open position the book will be held with. the covers thereof at an angle with respect to the back, presenting the leaves substantially fiat to the view of the operator, rather than causing them to bend through an angle of substantially 90, as is the case when the covers lie in the same plane as the back.

It will be seen that the device is highly ciiicient in operation and may be manufactured at a very small cost, the cost being substantially smaller than in previous devices of like character.

While we have thus described and illustrated a specific embodiment of our invention, we are aware that numerous alterations and changes may be made therein without materially departing from the spirit of the invention nor the scope of the appended claims in which We claim:

1. In a bookstand having supporting means, the combination therewith of: a centerboard, side boards hingedly connected thereto at each side thereof, and at least one latch acting between said center-board and each of said side boards, each of said latches comprising an outer member secured to said center-board, provided with spring supported socket portions defining two positions of said side board, an inner member secured to said side board having an end arranged to engage either of said socket portions to frictionally secure said side board in either of said positions and move between said sockets under a predetermined amount of pressure.

2. In a bookstand having supporting means, the combination therewith of a center board, s1 de boards hingedly connected thereto at each side thereof, and at least one latch acting between said center board and each of said side boards, each of said latches comprising a strip of sheet metal secured near one end to said center board to resiliently support the opposite end thereof, the latter end having bends forming resiliently supported socket portions which define two positions of said side board, a strip of sheet metal secured to said side board having an end arranged to engage either of said socket portions to frictionally secure said side board in either of said positions and move between said sockets under a predetermined amount of pressure.

3. In a bookstand having supporting means, the combination therewith of a center board, side boards hingedly connected thereto at each side thereof, and at least one latch acting between said center board and each of said side boards, each of said latches comprising a strip of spring steel secured near one end to said center board to resiliently support the opposite end thereof, the latter end having bends forming resiliently supporting socket portions which define a plusignatures.

GEDOR l/V. ALDEEN. ALFRED A. CARLSON. 

